The City of Love?

Recently I've had some post-Paris blues! Although it was this time last year that I returned back to the sometimes gloomy and uninspiring Carlisle, England I've always wanted to head back to the city of love and recently it's all I can think about!

Paris is such a stunning and stimulating city, I was never short on inspiration although I was only there for a few short days. While I was there I started (& have yet to finish) a number of projects; I already shared a project which I began, a typology of the infamous tour carts that litter central Paris with enthused tourists being cycled back and fourth around the countless attractions of the city. 

This is one of the projects that I was inspired to do while I was there.

M.

The Swinging 60's & The Blushing Bride

This is a lovely little personal post for you all to read about my favourite people in the world. 

My Grandparents are truly the greatest. In January 2014 it will be their 50th Wedding Anniversary. They were married in 1964 & honestly I have never known a better couple than Jennie & Arthur. They stick by each other thick & thin, & would do anything for one another. 

The other day I asked to see their wedding album as I had never seen any of their photographs (as a photographer I should have begged to see them a long time ago!) They are amazing, black & white film photographs, so I just had to share.

This is them on January 25th 1964. Obviously the real life prints don't even come close to comparing with the scanned in version but I still can't get over how beautiful they are.

I've definitely got something super special planned for these images involving their anniversary. I can't wait to share with everyone. But for now just look at how beautiful my Gran is!

M.

Experiments & Cigarettes

So, I've been wanting to share with you all what's been going on with my University work at the moment. I have been working on a few different projects here & there. Strangely enough the one I found myself most interested in doing was the one that I was feeling a 'crash & burn' scenario looming. It was so much fun and such a learning curve.

So anyone that knows me well knows that still life isn't exactly my strong suit, however it is a genre that I have wanted to develop on for a while now. I wanted to try something a little bit different with this project and experiment with new approaches to the idea of my 'studio.' I always think it's so much fun to try new things with my photography so here's what I did to achieve this image above:

I started off by making an executive decision to not use a professional photography studio, nor a still life table, (a decision which was very questionable but taught me a thing or two.)
I went to my local B&M Bargains (don't judge, there are some amazing finds there,) where I bought a very cheap roll of £2.99 wallpaper. I thought the Green colour was really odd but had some potential as far as an interesting backdrop was concerned, I loved the texture which looks pretty cool in my final prints; not to mention that there isn't anything I find more boring than a dull white backdrop in still life images.

(Stay with me, I'm nearly finished.)

I used some regular Blu-Tack to stick the wallpaper to the top of my bedroom wall and let it roll down to my chest of drawers below (which I decided to use as my still life table.) I also stuck the wallpaper to the surface of my drawers just so it didn't roll too much & rip.

For the lighting of this image I used regular table lamps (all in the name of experimental art, yeah?) something that my room seems to have in abundance! It was a real struggle at first simple because, as we all know, table lamps aren't all that adjustable but many chairs & suitcases & empty boxes, used as portable light stands later, I was actually really happy with how the images turned out.

Did I forget to mention that I didn't actually have subjects in mind so I went into my living room, picked up whatever was on the floor, & used it to photograph in my new make-shift studio! 

M.

London Calling.

So, as I told you all earlier, my sister Ruth & I visited London at the end of August just for a little getaway for a few days. It was amazing and I can't wait to get back there! We did so many fun things.

Although we had both been to London before we had never really seen that much of the City (& still haven't) so it was great to do a little bit of sight seeing while we were there. On our first day we were terrible tourists & visited Oxford Street to shop shop shop (but it's London, you've got to shop, correct?) It was a total change from our local shopping destinations because all shops had at least tripled in size. & of course when in London it's rude not to hit up Harrods where strangely enough we bumped into one of our childhood friends who is currently working there.

We did eventually visit the tourist attractions as we had planned & it was just as beautiful as I remembered it to be. We went to Camden Market & Covent Garden & walked around the city. We also went for a river cruise along the Thames which was amazing! I just wanted to share a few pictures from our trip.

Big Ben

Ruth waiting for our river cruise along the Thames

The river cruise before ours, with the London Eye making a cheeky appearance in the background.


M.

SweetPeas & Satchels

So strangely enough I have been full of busy this month, meaning I haven't had as much opportunity as I would like to get blogging.

Me & my sister, Ruth had an amazing little getaway to beautiful London earlier in the month (post about that soon to follow.) As expected I spent ALL of my money (much to the dismay of my Bank) but it was totally worth it. Normally I find myself returning from a shopping spree with a hoard of dresses, but unfortunately I was too busy spending all of my money on the most beautiful bags you have ever seen! 

Cambridge Satchel Company 14" SweetPea 

Cambridge Satchel Company 13" Cream Crocus

Anybody that knows me well knows that I have a massive obsession with Cambridge Satchels. I received a 15" Classic Vintage Brown for my birthday two years ago & it's rarely left my side since, & I was completely determined to add to my collection when we visited the Cambridge Satchel Company shop in Covent Garden.

My original plan was just to buy one, but I couldn't control myself once I got in! Like my Vintage Brown, both of my satchels are embossed with my initials M.A.G & I couldn't be happier with my purchases!

M.  

Home is where the heart is.

I have just returned to Carlisle after spending the most lovely week at home in Sunderland.

Now I know that Sunderland isn't the most classy or beautiful place in England, but it is my home and I will always have a love hate relationship with it. It is the home of most of my nearest and dearest, & it's where I was raised. I had an amazing childhood there.

I spent last weekend at the Atherton household with their beautiful little girls. Olivia, Isabel, Isla & I spent the day in the garden, watching films & making ridiculously tasty cookies. It truly is my little home away from home. The girls never fail to make me smile, unintentionally obviously.

This is (R-L) Isla, Isabel & Olivia (it feels wrong saying it in that order.) They are three of the sweetest most beautiful little girls & I feel so proud to say I have watched them grow up from being babies.

Trampoline fun with Isla & Issy.

All in all I've had such an amazing week at home. I got to see my Grandparents, my Dad & spend lots of time with my big 'little' sister as she refers to herself cause she's a skinny bitch and I most certainly am not.

I can't wait to have more weeks like these at home. It reminds me of how thankful I am to be surrounded by such amazing people.

Best friends & beautiful people

So ... I haven't posted in a while because I've felt really stuck and uninspired photography wise. I know I should be excited & happy because summer is finally here; but everyone has gone home for summer & there is not much to be done in Carlisle.

One of my favourite things to photograph are all of my friends and our everyday life, we're sort of like a little family so when we're all apart and in different places all over the country it makes me sad. Is it possible to be home-sick for your friends? 'Cause I think that's what I have. So I'm just looking over some old photos & missing them all. Beth & Jake included but they're camera shy.

The very beautiful Jess dancing in the park. I am definitely missing spontaneous group days out.

 Mitch loving himself & thinking he's the Don of the skatepark. We both hate & love him all at once.

 Mitch, Pete & their mate Dom ... I honestly don't know what they're doing. Freaks.

I am so excited to move into our house in September. Hopefully then I will be feeling more inspired! I miss them all so much, it just feels weird when there's just a couple of us together. Jess always jokes that we're like F.R.I.E.N.D.S ... but we really are! Everyone is so different but that's what makes us work so well. We love & loathe each other & it's in a completely functional way!